Multifunctional multiplex water-tight interface suitable for drift buoy

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of watertight interface, and disclose a kind of multifunctional multiplex watertight interface suitable for drift buoy, including 4-core watertight connector, pure hardware automatic detection switching circuit, internal stand-alone function circuit;The 4-core watertight connector is fixed in drift buoy spherical shell, and core foot is defined as: 1 foot GND, 2 foot EXT_RS232 R / CHARGE, 3 foot EXT_RS232 T / SENSOR SAIL, 4 foot EXT_POW_CHECK.The multifunctional multiplex watertight interface suitable for drift buoy, through special circuit design, realizes the coexistence of large current fast charging, data communication, water sail detection sensor signal connection function.At the same time, all metal core is not electrified, even in the case of micro leakage in marine environment, it is only ordinary slow corrosion, no electrochemical corrosion occurs, as long as possible to prolong the survival time of the whole spherical shell.The circuit formed by circuit scheme does not consume any battery power during the storage and formal operation of drift buoy.No effect on large current charging, and the charging speed is not reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of watertight interface technology, specifically to a multifunctional reusable watertight interface suitable for drifting buoys. Background Technology

[0002] Drifting buoys are the cornerstone of modern ocean observation systems. Through low-cost, large-scale, real-time Lagrange observations, they fill the gaps left by satellite remote sensing (which can only perceive the surface) and moored buoys (which have limited coverage), serving as crucial observation nodes connecting the air-sea interface with the dynamic processes within the deep ocean. Whether addressing extreme weather, ensuring shipping safety, or understanding ocean heat absorption under global warming, drifting buoys provide irreplaceable first-hand data.

[0003] Traditional moored buoys or satellite remote sensing use the "Eulerian method" (measurement at a fixed point). Drifting buoys, by moving with the current (Lagrange method), directly track the movement, speed, and path of water masses, enabling precise measurement of the Lagrange velocity of surface currents. It mainly consists of two parts: Surface buoy: Located on the sea surface, with a diameter of about 40 centimeters. It contains a satellite communication module (BeiDou or Iridium), a GNSS positioning module, a rechargeable battery, a solar panel, and sensors (sea surface temperature and salinity, air pressure, air temperature, wind speed and direction, attitude, water ingress monitoring, sail detection, etc.).

[0004] Water sail: Propelled by ocean currents, the water sail carries the drifting observation instrument. The water sail is located at this water depth, with its center 1500cm below the flange. The water sail is made of nylon fabric with a rubber coating, and the supporting frame is made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), approximately 60cm in diameter and 5.6 meters long, with several holes. The water sail is located about 15 meters below the water surface and is connected to a floating buoy via multi-strand anti-torsion steel cables made of 316 stainless steel.

[0005] After deployment, the drifting buoy floats freely with the current layer being measured, while accurately acquiring information such as ambient temperature, air pressure, wind speed, wind direction, sea surface temperature, latitude and longitude, buoy attitude, and operational parameters. This data is then transmitted back to ground base stations via BeiDou or other satellite communication systems. It can operate continuously in the ocean for over a year and is suitable for various applications, including large-area marine surveys and studies of air-sea interface interactions.

[0006] Existing drifting buoys have the following problems: An external charging interface is required. To maximize the buoy's operational time in the ocean, it is equipped with solar panels and a high-capacity rechargeable battery. The battery is continuously charged by solar energy, with the average charging power slightly exceeding the system's average power consumption, allowing for sustainable operation under ideal conditions. The high-capacity rechargeable battery also sustains the buoy's operation at night and during prolonged periods of overcast or rainy weather; therefore, the battery must have sufficient capacity. During normal operation in the ocean, the battery will remain near full charge due to continuous solar charging. However, while the buoy is stored in a warehouse, the rechargeable battery's charge will gradually decrease due to self-discharge. To prevent irreversible damage from over-discharge, periodic charging is necessary. Furthermore, the battery is fully charged before deployment to ensure smooth start-up and operation. Therefore, the buoy requires an external charging interface with a high current capacity (no less than 10A).

[0007] A wired communication interface is required. Drifting buoy systems contain numerous sensors and functional components. Communication tests are necessary before production, debugging, testing, and deployment to determine the functionality of each part. Furthermore, the buoy has multiple configurable operating modes, such as the operating cycles of various sensors and satellite communication frequencies, all of which require establishing communication with the buoy and sending interactive commands for configuration and modification. Compared to wireless communication such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, wired communication is more reliable and secure; therefore, drifting buoys generally come equipped with a wired communication interface.

[0008] A sail detection hardware function is required. During operation at sea, the drifting buoy relies on a sail for movement. The sail is connected to the buoy sphere by a 15-meter steel cable, meaning the sail is positioned within laminar currents at a depth of 15 meters. The final trajectory of the drifting buoy reflects the movement of the corresponding ocean current, which is crucial for studying ocean currents and seawater dynamics. Without a sail, or if the sail is lost due to a broken steel cable during operation, the drifting buoy's movement is primarily influenced by surface winds, rendering its trajectory scientifically meaningless. Therefore, the drifting buoy must have a sail detection function, and the detection results must be transmitted to a ground base station along with other sensor data. This sail detection function requires a sensor mounted on the sail, connected to the internal circuitry via a communication cable; therefore, the drifting buoy must have a sail detection circuitry interface.

[0009] Watertight connectors should be minimized. The marine environment is extremely harsh; drifting buoys constantly experience strong winds and waves, fluctuating temperatures throughout the seasons, strong seawater corrosion, and marine organism contamination during operation. Therefore, adequate sealing measures are essential to ensure the buoy remains leak-proof. One important principle is to reduce the number of perforations in the hull and the use of sealing devices. Each seal relies on O-rings to work with the flat structure on the hull; O-rings are susceptible to aging and loss of elasticity, and watertight connectors are also prone to aging and leakage. Furthermore, perforation compromises the integrity of the hull and reduces its mechanical strength. Therefore, the integrity of the wave buoy's hull should be maintained as much as possible, minimizing the use of watertight connectors.

[0010] Watertight connectors should have as few pins as possible. Depending on the application, watertight connectors are available with various pin counts; more pins mean higher cost and a greater risk of leakage. Therefore, it's best to choose watertight connectors with fewer pins. Four-pin connectors are readily available on the market, offering higher consistency and stability.

[0011] Traditional discrete designs are clearly insufficient to meet all the above functions, necessitating the increase in the number of watertight connectors or the use of watertight connectors with more pins. Typically, a 2-pin connector is used for charging, a 4-pin watertight connector for wired data communication, and a 2-pin watertight connector for connecting the sail detection sensor.

[0012] In traditional solutions, the watertight connector pins are electrified. Contact with seawater causes electrochemical corrosion, leading to connector breakdown and buoy leakage. The marine environment differs from the dry terrestrial environment. Watertight connectors rely on rubber deformation for a tight seal. Under the low pressure of seawater, the seal is weaker than under the high pressure of the deep sea, increasing the likelihood of micro-leakage. Furthermore, the sail detection method measures the presence of a sensor mounted on the sail. When the sail detaches, the cable breaks, exposing the cable core or watertight connector pin to seawater. In traditional solutions, the electrified core or watertight connector pin is directly connected to the internal rechargeable battery. Even with backflow prevention technologies like diodes, some leakage voltage and current (tens to hundreds of microamps) still exist. While diodes prevent backflow, they create a voltage difference during battery charging, reducing charging speed and efficiency, and causing heat buildup. The wired communication interface is RS232, with the TX pin having a fixed output level (-3V to -15V) when there is no data communication. If seawater leaks into either of these interfaces, a current will form between the positive and negative terminals, causing electrochemical corrosion. Electrochemical corrosion is much faster and more destructive than ordinary corrosion, and can quickly erode through the entire metal conductor of the watertight connector, penetrating the buoy's hull and causing leakage. Summary of the Invention

[0013] (a) Technical problems to be solved To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a multifunctional reusable watertight interface suitable for drifting buoys. Through a special circuit design, it enables simultaneous high-current fast charging, data communication, and signal connection for sail detection sensors. Simultaneously, the design ensures that all metal cores are non-electrified; even in the event of minor leaks in a marine environment, only slow corrosion occurs, without electrochemical corrosion, thus maximizing the survival time of the entire buoy shell. The circuit design does not consume any battery power during buoy storage and operation. It has the advantages of not affecting high-current charging and not reducing charging speed, thus solving the problems mentioned in the background technology.

[0014] (II) Technical Solution To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a multifunctional reusable watertight interface suitable for drifting buoys, comprising a 4-pin watertight connector, a pure hardware automatic detection and switching circuit, and an internal discrete functional circuit; the 4-pin watertight connector is fixed to the buoy shell, and the pins are defined as: pin 1 GND, pin 2 EXT_RS232 R / CHARGE, pin 3 EXT_RS232 T / SENSOR SAIL, and pin 4 EXT_POW_CHECK; the automatic detection and switching circuit automatically switches the interface to a sail detection mode, an RS232 communication mode, or a high-power charging mode according to the type of inserted cable; the internal discrete functional circuit includes a sail detection circuit, a rechargeable battery power supply circuit, and an RS232 communication interface circuit.

[0015] Preferably, the 4-core watertight connector can be plugged into three types of compatible 4-core female cables: water sail detection cable, high-power charger cable, and RS232 serial communication cable.

[0016] Preferably, the automatic detection and switching circuit includes: a relay power supply circuit, a function judgment and locking circuit, a first-level relay switching circuit, a second-level relay switching circuit, and a power protection circuit.

[0017] Preferably, the relay power supply circuit converts the EXT_POW_CHECK input voltage into a stable 5V relay power supply via a step-up / step-down converter and includes a reverse connection protection diode.

[0018] Preferably, the function judgment and locking circuit distinguishes the cable type based on the EXT_POW_CHECK voltage: when EXT_POW_CHECK≤5V, it is determined to be an RS232 communication cable; when EXT_POW_CHECK is 12V, it is determined to be a high-power charger cable; and the output state self-locking is achieved through a MOSFET and a Zener diode.

[0019] Preferably, the first-level relay switching circuit switches pin 3 to either the sail detection signal terminal INT_SENSOR SAIL or the RS232 transmitter terminal INT_RS232 T based on the POW_5V_RELAY1 voltage.

[0020] Preferably, the secondary relay switching circuit switches pin 2 to either the RS232 receiver terminal INT_RS232 R or the battery charging positive terminal INT_BAT+, based on the POW_5V_RELAY2 voltage.

[0021] Preferably, when no cable is plugged in or only the water sail detection cable is plugged in, all pins are in a high-resistance state or grounded state, with no external output voltage and no electrochemical corrosion.

[0022] Preferably, in high-power charging mode, the charging circuit does not have a series anti-backflow diode, resulting in no charging voltage drop and no additional heat loss.

[0023] Preferably, the power supply protection circuit includes a bidirectional TVS diode, a varistor, or a gas discharge tube protection device to suppress transient external voltage surges and protect the internal circuitry.

[0024] (III) Beneficial Effects Compared with the prior art, the present invention provides a multifunctional reusable watertight interface suitable for drifting buoys, which has the following advantages: 1. This multi-functional reusable watertight interface, suitable for drifting buoys, reduces the number of watertight connectors from three to one, greatly reducing the risk of buoy leakage and significantly enhancing mechanical strength.

[0025] 2. This multi-functional reusable watertight connector for drifting buoys uses a watertight connector with a minimum of four pins. This type of product has a large market presence and high reliability. Simultaneously, the number of watertight connectors is reduced to one, and the number of openings in the buoy's spherical shell is correspondingly reduced. These features significantly lower the overall cost of the buoy.

[0026] 3. This multi-functional reusable watertight interface for drifting buoys uses only a single four-pin watertight connector to simultaneously achieve sail detection, high-power charging, and RS232 communication. The internal circuitry automatically detects and switches functions based on the type of cable connected, increasing the buoy's ease of use.

[0027] 4. This multi-functional reusable watertight connector for drifting buoys, when connected to the sail detection cable or not connected to any cable (which also occurs when the sail falls off), has all core pins electrically in a high-resistance state, not outputting voltage externally, thus avoiding electrochemical reactions. In the event of minor leakage in the buoy's watertight connector or sail detachment, it greatly slows down corrosion and prevents water leakage caused by accelerated electrochemical corrosion of the buoy.

[0028] 5. This multi-functional reusable watertight interface, suitable for drifting buoys, ensures that the electrical state of all core pins remains safe and reliable during the connection and disconnection of different types of cables, without damaging the internal circuitry.

[0029] 6. This multi-functional reusable watertight interface, suitable for drifting buoys, does not use anti-backflow diodes in the charging circuit, so there is no voltage drop during the charging process, and heat accumulation and power loss are also avoided. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a drifting buoy.

[0031] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing the location of the watertight connector for a drifting buoy.

[0032] Figure 3 This is a diagram showing the types of cores for watertight connectors.

[0033] Figure 4 Diagram showing the leakage path caused by electrochemical corrosion of watertight connectors.

[0034] Figure 5 Definition diagram of the core foot of the watertight connector (male seat) for the spherical shell of a drifting buoy.

[0035] Figure 6 Definition diagram of the core foot of the main cable for testing the sail of a drifting buoy.

[0036] Figure 7 Defines the core pin of the main cable for the drift buoy charger.

[0037] Figure 8 Defines the core pins of the RS232 communication busbar for the drifting buoy.

[0038] Figure 9 This describes the principle of the automatic detection function switching circuit.

[0039] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the watertight connector terminal circuit.

[0040] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the internal discrete functional circuit connectors.

[0041] Figure 12 This is a circuit diagram for a relay power supply.

[0042] Figure 13 This is a circuit diagram for function judgment and locking.

[0043] Figure 14 This is a circuit diagram for a primary relay control circuit.

[0044] Figure 15 This is a circuit diagram for a two-stage relay control circuit.

[0045] Figure 16 This is a circuit diagram for a power supply protection device.

[0046] Figure 17 This diagram shows the relationship between function selection and cable configuration during the water sail detection state.

[0047] Figure 18 Diagram showing the correspondence between RS232 serial communication status function selection and cable.

[0048] Figure 19 Diagram showing the relationship between the function selection for high-power charging and the corresponding cable. Detailed Implementation

[0049] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0050] Please see Figure 1-4 A multifunctional reusable watertight interface for drifting buoys includes a 4-pin watertight connector, a pure hardware automatic detection and switching circuit, and internal discrete functional circuits. The 4-pin watertight connector is fixed to the buoy shell, with the pins defined as: pin 1 GND, pin 2 EXT_RS232 R / CHARGE, pin 3 EXT_RS232 T / SENSOR SAIL, and pin 4 EXT_POW_CHECK. The automatic detection and switching circuit automatically switches the interface to sail detection mode, RS232 communication mode, or high-power charging mode according to the type of inserted cable. The internal discrete functional circuits include a sail detection circuit, a rechargeable battery power supply circuit, and an RS232 communication interface circuit.

[0051] The 4-core watertight connector can be plugged into three types of 4-core female cables: water sail detection cable, high-power charger cable, and RS232 serial communication cable.

[0052] The automatic detection and switching circuit includes: a relay power supply circuit, a function judgment and locking circuit, a first-level relay switching circuit, a second-level relay switching circuit, and a power protection circuit.

[0053] The relay power supply circuit converts the EXT_POW_CHECK input voltage into a stable 5V relay power supply via a step-up / step-down converter and includes a reverse connection protection diode.

[0054] The function judgment and locking circuit distinguishes the cable type based on the EXT_POW_CHECK voltage: when EXT_POW_CHECK≤5V, it is determined to be an RS232 communication cable; when EXT_POW_CHECK is 12V, it is determined to be a high-power charger cable; and the output state is self-locked through a MOSFET and a Zener diode.

[0055] The primary relay switching circuit switches pin 3 to either the sail detection signal terminal INT_SENSOR SAIL or the RS232 transmitter terminal INT_RS232 T, based on the POW_5V_RELAY1 voltage.

[0056] The secondary relay switching circuit switches pin 2 to either the RS232 receiver terminal INT_RS232 R or the battery charging positive terminal INT_BAT+, based on the POW_5V_RELAY2 voltage.

[0057] When the cable is not plugged in or only the water sail test cable is plugged in, the core pin is in a high resistance state or grounded state, there is no external output voltage, and no electrochemical corrosion occurs.

[0058] In high-power charging mode, the charging circuit does not have a series anti-backflow diode, resulting in no charging voltage drop and no additional heat loss.

[0059] Power supply protection circuits include bidirectional TVS diodes, varistors, or gas discharge tubes as protective devices to suppress transient external voltage surges and protect internal circuits.

[0060] In summary, this multi-functional reusable watertight connector for drifting buoys, when used without a cable or with only a sail detection cable connected, exhibits high resistance or grounding at all pins of the 4-core watertight connector, with no external output voltage and only ordinary slow corrosion, without electrochemical corrosion. When an RS232 serial communication cable is connected, EXT_POW_CHECK ≤ 5V, the function judgment and locking circuit determines it to be in communication mode, the first-level relay switching circuit switches pin 3 to the RS232 transmitter INT_RS232-T, and the second-level relay switching circuit switches pin 2 to... The RS232 receiver INT_RS232-R enables full-duplex data communication. When a high-power charger cable is plugged in, EXT_POW_CHECK is 12V, and the function judgment and locking circuit determines that it is in charging state. The first-level relay switching circuit keeps pin 3 in a high-impedance state, and the second-level relay switching circuit switches pin 2 to the battery charging positive terminal INT_BAT+, realizing high-current, voltage-drop-free fast charging. The entire working process is completed automatically by pure hardware circuitry, without consuming the internal battery power of the drift buoy. The charging circuit has no anti-backflow diode, and there is no charging voltage drop or heat loss.

[0061] It should be noted that the term "comprising" or any other variation thereof is intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0062] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A multifunctional reusable watertight interface suitable for drifting buoys, characterized in that, It includes a 4-pin watertight connector, a pure hardware automatic detection and switching circuit, and an internal discrete functional circuit. The 4-pin watertight connector is fixed to the buoy shell, and the pins are defined as follows: pin 1 GND, pin 2 EXT_RS232 R / CHARGE, pin 3 EXT_RS232 T / SENSOR SAIL, and pin 4 EXT_POW_CHECK. The automatic detection and switching circuit automatically switches the interface to water sail detection mode, RS232 communication mode, or high-power charging mode according to the type of inserted cable. The internal discrete functional circuit includes a water sail detection circuit, a rechargeable battery power supply circuit, and an RS232 communication interface circuit.

2. The interface according to claim 1, characterized in that, The 4-core watertight connector can be plugged into three types of compatible 4-core female cables: water sail detection cable, high-power charger cable, and RS232 serial communication cable.

3. The interface according to claim 1, characterized in that, The automatic detection and switching circuit includes: a relay power supply circuit, a function judgment and locking circuit, a first-level relay switching circuit, a second-level relay switching circuit, and a power protection circuit.

4. The interface according to claim 3, characterized in that, The relay power supply circuit converts the EXT_POW_CHECK input voltage into a stable 5V relay power supply via a step-up and step-down converter, and includes a reverse connection protection diode.

5. The interface according to claim 3, characterized in that, The function judgment and locking circuit distinguishes the cable type based on the EXT_POW_CHECK voltage: when EXT_POW_CHECK≤5V, it is determined to be an RS232 communication cable; when EXT_POW_CHECK is 12V, it is determined to be a high-power charger cable; and the output state is self-locked through a MOSFET and a Zener diode.

6. The interface according to claim 3, characterized in that, The primary relay switching circuit switches pin 3 to either the sail detection signal terminal INT_SENSOR SAIL or the RS232 transmitter terminal INT_RS232 T, based on the POW_5V_RELAY1 voltage.

7. The interface according to claim 3, characterized in that, The secondary relay switching circuit switches pin 2 to either the RS232 receiver terminal INT_RS232 R or the battery charging positive terminal INT_BAT+, based on the POW_5V_RELAY2 voltage.

8. The interface according to claim 1, characterized in that, When no cable is plugged in or only the water sail test cable is plugged in, all pins are in a high-resistance state or grounded state, with no external output voltage and no electrochemical corrosion.

9. The interface according to claim 1, characterized in that, In high-power charging mode, the charging circuit does not have a series anti-backflow diode, resulting in no charging voltage drop and no additional heat loss.

10. The interface according to claim 1, characterized in that, The power supply protection circuit includes bidirectional TVS diodes, varistors, or gas discharge tubes as protective devices to suppress transient external voltage surges and protect the internal circuitry.

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